Works out quite well on the pitch. Enesei away first up is a bit of a trip into the unknown and a banana skin but we should be forewarned and therefore forearmed for that one. Treviso is on Friday 6th so we have a bit of turnaround time for the long journey east. Munster away is the week after Brive at home.

Newcastle play Brive away on the first weekend. Brive you'd imagine will give that one a good rattle.

Brive and Newcastle at home after that.

Newcastle away timing isn't really great on or off the field and during a busy period of games it'll be a quick turnaround for Ulster at home which isn't ideal.

Brive by January even at home are unlikely to be too bothered and Enesei at home to finish is a good one if we need a result.

Note that Newcastle are at home to Enisei in Round 2 and travel to Sochi in January, opposite to as previously claimed.

GP80 wrote: Was looking forward to Newcastle away, but weekend before Christmas is definitely a no-go sadly

Typical, any other weekend would have been lovely

match is listed for 3pm, so it's possible to do a day trip from Dublin, bus back to Galway.
FR flight at 9.45, arrive 10:55
EI flight at 20.50, arrive at 22:10

cost 75e,
for 3e more, depart 8:30 with EI, arrive at 9:45

I'll prob go for this, if the time is fixed firmly.

Was looking forward to Newcastle away, but weekend before Christmas is definitely a no-go sadly

Typical, any other weekend would have been lovely

Away RD 1 Enisei-STM
Home RD 2 Lyon
Home RD 3 Falcons
Away RD 4 Falcons
Away RD 5 Lyon
Home Rd 6 Enisei-STM

Fixtures at last! www.epcrugby.com/europeanrugbychallengec...138.php#.VfrIbZeYJdA

connemara man wrote: Nothing surprises me when it comes to organisation.
You'd think that the eprc would want it sorted out by now.

You would think so.

Nothing surprises me when it comes to organisation.
You'd think that the eprc would want it sorted out by now.

Considering the "challenges" we have had in previous years getting info on simple trips to France, is anyone that surprised that a Russian trip is proving almost beyond the ability of those in charge.

This is legitimately pulling the piss, still no dates for any of the Newcastle or Brive games..?

When are they going announcing dates at all?

Update from EPCR:

We are planning to announce the dates and kick off times for Rounds 1-4 of the 2015/16 Champions Cup and Challenge Cup in or around mid-August.

Thank you for your interest in European professional club rugby.

EPCR Communications

I'm guessing middle to end of July for the actual whose playing who to be released?

Game weekends are already released but no fixtures as yet for either competition.

4-6 September Pro12 Rd. 1

11-13 September Pro12 Rd. 2

[2 weekends no games]

2-4 October Pro12 Rd. 3

[1 weekend no game]

16-18 October Pro12 Rd. 4

23-25 October Pro12 Rd. 5

30 October-1 November Pro12 Rd. 6

6-8 November Pro12 Rd. 7

12-15 November Challenge Cup Rd. 1

19-22 November Challenge Cup Rd. 2

27-29 November Pro12 Rd. 8

4-6 December Pro12 Rd. 9

10-13 December Challenge Cup Rd. 3

17-20 December Challenge Cup Rd. 4

26-28 December Pro12 Rd. 10

1-3 January Pro12 Rd. 11

8-10 January Pro12 Rd. 12

14-17 January Challenge Cup Rd. 5

21-24 January Challenge Cup Rd. 6

29-31 January Pro12 Rd. 13

[1 weekend no game]

12-14 February Pro12 Rd. 14

19-21 February Pro12 Rd. 15

26-28 February Pro12 Rd. 16

4-6 March Pro12 Rd. 17

[2 weekends no game]

25-27 March Pro12 Rd. 18

1-3 April Pro12 Rd. 19

7-10 April Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals

15-17 April Pro12 Rd. 20

22-24 April Challenge Cup Semi-Finals

29 April-1 May Pro12 Rd. 21

6-8 May Pro12 Rd. 22

13 May Challenge Cup Final

20-21 Pro12 Semi Finals

28 May Pro12 Rd. Final

folks,
When are the fixtures weekends released? Want to start the planning!!

When you look at the Champions Cup draw it isn't very glamorous in comparison but at least we got some reward for our top seeding.

Being honest will be disappointed if we don't win the group and get a home quarter final. Newcastle away will be the major stumbling block I'd imagine, Newcastle had a better season this season than the one before (12 points better off) but still 11th so most definitely winnable. We've lost away to enough lower seeded sides over the years not to take Enesei away for granted. They impressed me the couple of times I've seen them playing the Eagles a couple of years back. A strong pack should nullify them but wouldn't be taking that away day lightly.

Some of the other groups look open enough. Pool 2 is strong, apart from Calvisano Pool 3 is strong, Gloucester will probably walk Pool 4 and Pool 5 could be even enough.